Client Desktop change after migration.

Question

Greetings of the day.
We are running on Windows Server 2008R2 with ACDC and as Domain controller with static ip for Server and Clients. All clients are into the domain to this file and application server.
We have now procured a new server hardware and have installed with Windows Server 2022 standard. Request you to please guide and support us with the following information.

1. Migrate or export the ACDC of existing server to new server.
2. Will the client desktop or user information change if we try to log in to the new server? Yes, thats what we feel. With this, we may have to reinstall all the SW, MS Outlook etc.
3. How to join the new domain/server without the user desktop or files, configuration without any changes.

Hope someone can throw some light and educate us.
Regards.

Answer 1

The simplest solution is a migration.

The two prerequisites to introducing the first 2019 or 2022 domain controller are that domain functional level needs to be 2008 or higher and older sysvol FRS replication needs to have been migrated to DFSR
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Storage-at-Microsoft/Streamlined-Migration-of-FRS-to-DFSR-SYSVOL/ba-p/425405

I'd use dcdiag / repadmin tools to verify health correcting all errors found before starting any operations. Then stand up the new 2019 or 2022, patch it fully, license it, join existing domain, add active directory domain services, promote it also making it a GC (recommended), transfer FSMO roles over (optional), transfer pdc emulator role (optional), use dcdiag / repadmin tools to again verify health, when all is good you can decommission / demote old one.

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